The problem of atomisation: from 'bowling alone' to lockdowns
Conference keynote
Bristow, J. 2022. The problem of atomisation: from 'bowling alone' to lockdowns.
| Authors | Bristow, J. |
|---|---|
| Type | Conference keynote |
| Description | Concerns about the demise of civil society go back a long way. Almost as soon as De Tocqueville had praised the many voluntary and civic associations of the newly independent United States of America was he forecasting and fretting over their inevitable decline. Throughout the 20th Century, similar concerns could be heard from authors from almost every ideological persuasion. A key theme has been the rise of ‘individualism’ and a supposedly atomised society of isolated individuals. At the turn of the millennium, Robert Putnam noted that civic participation was falling across all areas of American life, arguing that ‘social capital’ was lost when traditional civic associations atrophied. Many insist that the State must act to repair these damaged social bonds. Yet critics note that State activity seems only to degrade civil society further. Given the contradictory legacy of Covid lockdowns – which drew on civic spirit and collective sacrifice yet served to isolate many millions – do we need to ask what civil society is, and what it could be? How do we challenge atomisation and isolation? Should we be sceptical of those in power who want to mend ‘broken’ societies? |
| Keywords | Covid; Generations; Atomisation; Mannheim; Knowledge |
| Year | 2022 |
| Conference | Ideas Matter 2022: The Old Roots of the New Normal |
| Related URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyQqmwIAKiE |
| https://ideasmatter.org.uk/academy-2022-full-programme | |
| File | File Access Level Open |
| Publication process dates | |
| Deposited | 05 Jul 2023 |
Permalink -
https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/94zy9/the-problem-of-atomisation-from-bowling-alone-to-lockdowns
76
total views0
total downloads8
views this month0
downloads this month
Export as
Related outputs
Generational differences in the workplace: Lessons from and for the university
Bristow, J. 2024. Generational differences in the workplace: Lessons from and for the university.Generation gaps, past and present
Bristow, J. 2024. Generation gaps, past and present."This house would respect our elders"
Bristow, J. 2023. "This house would respect our elders".Parenting culture studies
Lee, E., Bristow, J., Faircloth, C. and Macvarish, J. 2023. Parenting culture studies. Cham Palgrave Macmillan.Gen Z, identity politics, and the problem of belonging
Bristow, J. 2023. Gen Z, identity politics, and the problem of belonging.Generational tensions in higher education
Bristow, J. 2023. Generational tensions in higher education.The problem of the 'Covid generation'
Bristow, J. 2022. The problem of the 'Covid generation'.From ‘protection’ to ‘resilience’ – the Covid-19 pandemic and the rhetoric of children’s wellbeing
Bristow, J. 2022. From ‘protection’ to ‘resilience’ – the Covid-19 pandemic and the rhetoric of children’s wellbeing.The future of universities
Bristow, J. 2021. The future of universities.Beyond ‘the choice to drink’ in a UK guideline on FASD: the precautionary principle, pregnancy surveillance, and the managed woman
Lee, Ellie, Bristow, Jennie, Arkell, Rachel and Murphy, Clare 2021. Beyond ‘the choice to drink’ in a UK guideline on FASD: the precautionary principle, pregnancy surveillance, and the managed woman. Health, Risk & Society. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698575.2021.1998389Growing up In lockdown
Bristow, J. 2021. Growing up In lockdown. London Academy of Ideas.Talking about generations: 5 questions to ask yourself
Bristow, J. and Kingstone, H. 2021. Talking about generations: 5 questions to ask yourself.Parenting the crisis: The cultural politics of parent‐blame Tracey Jensen Bristol: Policy Press, March 2018, ISBN:978‐1447325062, 216 pages, £20.79 pbk
Bristow, Jennie 2021. Parenting the crisis: The cultural politics of parent‐blame Tracey Jensen Bristol: Policy Press, March 2018, ISBN:978‐1447325062, 216 pages, £20.79 pbk. Children & Society. 35 (3), pp. 463-464. https://doi.org/10.1111/chso.12456The Corona generation: coming of age in a crisis
Bristow, J. and Gilland, E. 2020. The Corona generation: coming of age in a crisis. Zero Books (John Hunt Publishing).Generational Encounters with Higher Education The academic–student relationship and the university experience
Cant, S., Bristow, J. and Chatterjee, A. 2020. Generational Encounters with Higher Education The academic–student relationship and the university experience. Bristol Bristol University Press.“Helicopter parents”, higher education, and ambivalent adulthood
Bristow, J. 2020. “Helicopter parents”, higher education, and ambivalent adulthood. Revue des politiques sociales et familiales.Generational Encounters with Higher Education The Academic–Student Relationship and the University Experience
Bristow, J., Cant, S. and Chatterjee, A. 2020. Generational Encounters with Higher Education The Academic–Student Relationship and the University Experience. Bristol Bristol University Press.Post-Brexit boomer blaming: The contradictions of generational grievance
Bristow, J. 2020. Post-Brexit boomer blaming: The contradictions of generational grievance. The Sociological Review. 69 (4), pp. 759-774. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038026119899882Stop mugging Grandma : the 'generation wars' and why boomer-blaming won't solve anything
Bristow, J. 2019. Stop mugging Grandma : the 'generation wars' and why boomer-blaming won't solve anything. New Haven Yale University Press.
The graduate generation: how students navigate the contradictions of higher education.
Bristow, J. 2019. The graduate generation: how students navigate the contradictions of higher education.Everyone’s a loser in today’s fabricated generation wars
Bristow, J. 2018. Everyone’s a loser in today’s fabricated generation wars. City AM.Buying off young people
Bristow, J. 2018. Buying off young people. Spiked.The toddlers have taken over
Bristow, J. 2019. The toddlers have taken over. Spiked.The futility of generation wars
Bristow, J. 2019. The futility of generation wars. Spiked.Have the old stolen young people’s futures? Our contributors debate
Bristow, J. and Willetts, D. 2019. Have the old stolen young people’s futures? Our contributors debate. Prospect.The real meaning of ‘OK Boomer’
Bristow, J. 2019. The real meaning of ‘OK Boomer’. Spiked.Ageism is putting all our retirements at risk
Bristow, J. 2019. Ageism is putting all our retirements at risk. Spiked.Are students these days more fragile?
Bristow, J., Cant, S. and Chatterjee, A. 2019. Are students these days more fragile?The graduate generation: how students navigate the contradictions of higher education.
Bristow, J., Cant, S. and Chatterjee, A. 2019. The graduate generation: how students navigate the contradictions of higher education.Knowledge, scholarship, and the ‘schoolification’ of the University
Bristow, J., Cant, S. and Chatterjee, A. 2019. Knowledge, scholarship, and the ‘schoolification’ of the University.Don’t turn Britain’s schools into mental health centres
Bristow, J. 2018. Don’t turn Britain’s schools into mental health centres. Discursive of Tunbridge Wells.Time for a truce in the 'generation wars'
Bristow, J. 2018. Time for a truce in the 'generation wars'. Spiked.Why are today's students so fragile?
Bristow, J. 2017. Why are today's students so fragile?Is it time to resist calls for more mental health interventions in education
Bristow, J. 2017. Is it time to resist calls for more mental health interventions in education.Universities and the construction of a new generation gap
Bristow, J. 2017. Universities and the construction of a new generation gap.Constructing the 'perfect pregnancy' today
Bristow, J. 2017. Constructing the 'perfect pregnancy' today.After Grenfell: more health and safety?
Bristow, J. 2017. After Grenfell: more health and safety? Spiked.The promotion of 'generational equity' is a divisive pursuit
Bristow, J. 2017. The promotion of 'generational equity' is a divisive pursuit. European Financial Review.The manipulative flattery of the youth vote is demeaning to young people and bad for politics
Bristow, J. 2017. The manipulative flattery of the youth vote is demeaning to young people and bad for politics. LSE British Politics and Policy.Pregnant women don’t need a blanket ban on drinking. They need the facts
Bristow, J. 2017. Pregnant women don’t need a blanket ban on drinking. They need the facts. Guardian.From Brexit to the pensions crisis, how did the Baby Boomers get the blame for everything?
Bristow, J. 2017. From Brexit to the pensions crisis, how did the Baby Boomers get the blame for everything? LSE British Politics and Policy.Policing pregnancy: the new attack on women's autonomy
Bristow, J. 2017. Policing pregnancy: the new attack on women's autonomy. Spiked.What should schools teach?
Bristow, J. 2017. What should schools teach? Spiked.Understanding Trump voters
Bristow, J. 2016. Understanding Trump voters. Spiked.Who cares about the university?
Bristow, J., Cant, S. and Chatterjee, A. 2018. Who cares about the university?This strike reminds us what universities are for
Bristow, J. 2018. This strike reminds us what universities are for. Spiked.